Blues: plain and dirty

Over 100 years ago, in the dust that settled after the American Civil War, the blues were born down in that good ol Mississippi Delta region, far, far away from the shores of our little isle.

A therapeutic outlet to release the frustrations of everyday life through song, the blues were shaped by African roots, by the repetitive rhythms of physical labour, by the souls need to cry out to the almighty and to anyone who would listen.

And listen to it we have as virtually all modern popular music has been influenced in some way by the blues tradition from country, bluegrass, jazz and folk to rock, pop and rap.

If you listen closely, you can hear the blue thread lining through it all.

In light of its important and fundamental presence throughout modern music (and because, lets face it, we all gotta sit back and sing out the blues now and then) it is fantastic to see blues being represented more strongly on P.E.I. in recent years.

The P.E.I. Jazz and Blues Festival is obviously growing in strength as an event, and this years lineup of artists looks to be stellar, as thousands of locals and visitors alike will be taking in some fabulous blues day and night, starting July 5.

And the Island does have some really great blues talent, which all just keeps improving with experience and maturity.

Artists like Scott Parsons, The Blueprints, Joey Kitson and M.J. Mullin and The Rattlesnakin Daddies, to mention a few, are mainstays on the Island blues scene and have all been able to develop their acts to an even greater degree as of late, with the presence of Bourbons House of Blues as an awesome new little venue to showcase local blues and folk music.

But since December of 2006, a new blues band has been steadily taking its foothold on the Charlottetown scene: The Plain Dirty Blues Band.

Playing mostly at Brennans on weekend nights up to this point, the four-piece group consists of Doug Burton, lead vocals and electric guitar, Willie Wagner, guitar, Robbie Mundle, bass, and Este Mundos Simon Moore on drums.

Last Friday, I kicked back with a pint o Keiths in my hand to take in the sounds of their electrified blues, as it poured out of the open bar windows and into the warm city streets.

Belting out blues classics by the likes of Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, ZZ Top, the Allman Brothers and Howlin Wolf, the band played a three-set night of straight-ahead, no messin around blues.

And obviously the group is doing something right, as the crowd (raging like a cougar in a cage) was the biggest crowd that the bands got out yet.

Sue Burton, the lead singers wife, also got up and did a couple of Tragically Hip tunes at one point (New Orleans is Sinkin and Blow at High Dough), which were quite well received by the crowd so well received, that she was hauled up

later on in the last set to

do the exact same songs again.

Black Cat Bone, After Midnight and Buddy Guys version of Mary Had a Little Lamb were a few other hits that rounded out the night.

Noteworthy trademarks of the band consist of some really great trade-off guitar work by the two electric guitarists, and some bang-on, in-the-pocket drum work by Moore at the kit.

You will certainly be seeing more of these guys in the months ahead. Two particular places to catch them will be back at Brennans during the P.E.I. Jazz and Blues Festival for late night blues on July 6 and then later on in the month on Friday July 20,

for an afternoon performance at the yacht club for race week.

Next week: Ill be tellin you all about Nathan Wileys CD launch tonight at The Guild, with opening guest Liam Corcoran. Till next week, happy June!



At a glance:

What: Plain ol blues in the Charlottetown night

Who: The Plain Dirty Blues Band.

Where: Brennans Pub and Eatery, Victoria Row.

When: Last Friday, June 15.

Why: To quote the great Duke Ellington, I merely took the energy it takes to pout, and wrote some blues. Thats what its all about, baby.



Each week, Todd MacLean brings his readers into the experience of a new musical event, from Island ceilidhs and festivals, to the citys bar scene and rock concerts. When he is not writing or playing music, he can often be found strolling throughout the streets of Charlottetown philosophizing and eating cookies. He loves to hear feedback and suggestions for future musical endeavors . He can be reached at tmaclean@theguardian.pe.ca or at 626-1242.